The Ashes: Stuart Broad mind games see Marnus Labuschagne fall ...

Stuart Broad has had the last laugh over Marnus Labuschagne after a cheeky bail switch at The Oval.

Labuschagne is well known for his superstition with bails.

During his early career, he was bowled after the ball tipped a bail that was overhanging the stump.

Since, he has always aligned the bails with the stumps.

During the opening session of the second day at The Oval, Broad walked up to the stumps and switched the bails over, eliciting a laugh from Labuschagne.

However, the grin quickly left the Australian’s face as he nicked the very next ball, with Joe Root pulling off a stunning one-handed grab at the first slip.

The Aussie No.3’s partner Usman Khawaja hadn’t been pleased with Broad touching the bails, and the English quickly patted him on the back as Labuschagne departed, complaining about the failing light.

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There were light-hearted barbs in the commentary about the spirit of cricket, but there is no doubt England’s mind games paid off.

However, the bails were again called into action in the last session after Smith stumbled coming back for two.

The sub-fielder had hared in from the rope and delivered a perfect throw to Jonny Bairstow.

Smith made a desperate dive but appeared to be short as the English keeper knocked the bail off.

It was a different story on replay.

The third umpire went frame-by-frame, revealing the stubborn bail refusing to leave its groove in the middle stump after Bairstow nudged it early.

The very end of Smith’s bat had made ground when the bail finally dislodged.

Australia found themselves in a hole after scoring just 21 runs in the first hour of day two, and Labuschagne’s fall started an Aussie implosion in the second session.

The visitors lost 5-71 in the middle session after a series of soft dismissals.